Evan Berrington
Did you know that you can grow kiwi in a pot? It’s true! No longer does kiwi have to be that fruit you purchase from a store because you can grow hardy kiwi varieties right at home! These “hardy” kiwi variety is actually smaller and sweeter than in-store bought kiwis (meaning they’re even more delicious!). They are also called baby kiwis and they grow in clusters.
HOW TO PLANT KIWI IN A POT
CLIMATE:
Hardy kiwis can sustain and remain dormant in -25C weather, but actually grow in mild winters, so as long as they’re taken care of, kiwis can grow almost anywhere!
POTTING MIX:
1. Purchase a soil-less potting mix that has at least one third organic material. Make sure that the potting mix has good drainage!
2. Into that potting mix, add organic fertilizer such as bone meal or well composted manure.
PLANTING KIWIS:
1. Start off by purchasing a kiwi nursery container. It is much easier and much more guaranteed you’ll have kiwis than if you were to plant them from seed. If you DO decide to grow from seed, just follow the same directions as below!
2. Place your nursery container next to a trellis so that your kiwi can climb up.
3. Fill the nursery container about two thirds full with the potting and fertilizer mix.
4. Remove the kiwi plant from its container and plant it in the center of the container.
5. Take a male and a female plant from the container and place them on each side of the of the centered plant. (Kiwi nursery containers SHOULD contain both a male and a female plant, especially if you’re growing the hardy variety!).
6. Cover up the rest of the container with potting mix until it gets to the top. Leave 2-3 inches at the top for water.
7. Stick a stake into the container next to the trellis to facilitate growth and reach.
MAINTENANCE:
1. You should prune the vines about four times during the growing season. Start by cutting off half the new growth of each branch every few weeks. This will teach the kiwi plant to grow more as a bush than a vine. Limit the growth of the male plant to just flowers – just enough to pollinate!
2. Fertilize the plants just before growing begins, and then two or three more times during the first half of the growing season.
3. You should pick off your kiwi fruit when they are mature, but not fully ripe. They will ripen on their one once off the plant!
HOW TO PLANT KIWI IN A POT
CLIMATE:
Hardy kiwis can sustain and remain dormant in -25C weather, but actually grow in mild winters, so as long as they’re taken care of, kiwis can grow almost anywhere!
POTTING MIX:
1. Purchase a soil-less potting mix that has at least one third organic material. Make sure that the potting mix has good drainage!
2. Into that potting mix, add organic fertilizer such as bone meal or well composted manure.
PLANTING KIWIS:
1. Start off by purchasing a kiwi nursery container. It is much easier and much more guaranteed you’ll have kiwis than if you were to plant them from seed. If you DO decide to grow from seed, just follow the same directions as below!
2. Place your nursery container next to a trellis so that your kiwi can climb up.
3. Fill the nursery container about two thirds full with the potting and fertilizer mix.
4. Remove the kiwi plant from its container and plant it in the center of the container.
5. Take a male and a female plant from the container and place them on each side of the of the centered plant. (Kiwi nursery containers SHOULD contain both a male and a female plant, especially if you’re growing the hardy variety!).
6. Cover up the rest of the container with potting mix until it gets to the top. Leave 2-3 inches at the top for water.
7. Stick a stake into the container next to the trellis to facilitate growth and reach.
MAINTENANCE:
1. You should prune the vines about four times during the growing season. Start by cutting off half the new growth of each branch every few weeks. This will teach the kiwi plant to grow more as a bush than a vine. Limit the growth of the male plant to just flowers – just enough to pollinate!
2. Fertilize the plants just before growing begins, and then two or three more times during the first half of the growing season.
3. You should pick off your kiwi fruit when they are mature, but not fully ripe. They will ripen on their one once off the plant!
